LOAD EFFECTS OF FAST LONGITUDINAL ROTATIONS

Abstract

Pirouettes, jumps in figure skating and twisting somersaults are fascinating movements in sports. But there is a lack of investigations in the field of motor control and load effects of fast longitudinal rotations. The purpose of the present study was to analyze load effects during and after longitudinal rotations. A "Longitudinal Rotation Simulator", posturography, and video nystagmography were used to analyze the rotational load. Six gymnasts, eleven figure skaters, and nineteen non-athletes were investigated. There were significant differences in the postural control between gymnasts and non-athletes. Per-rotatory nystagmus amplitude was significantly lower after three rotations than after ten rotations. The posturography and the video nystagmography are valid methods to characterize the rotational load.